Transaction counter selection



Jan. 13, 1953 F. B. MOSER 2,625,322

TRANSACTION COUNTER SELECTION AND CONTROL Filed Oct. 30, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG I 53 CLEAR ROW l ADD READ ROW l ROW3 2 ROWI FRONT K UPPER His attorney ROW2 'READ @ROWI in Q) ROW3 Jan. 13, 1953 F. B. MOSER 2,625,322

TRANSACTION COUNTER SELECTION AND CONTROL Filed Oct. 30, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRANK B. MOSER His Cittorueg Patented Jan. 13, 1953 TRANSACTION COUNTER SELECTION AND CONTROL Frank B. Moser, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Application October 30, 1948, Serial No. 57,507

8 Claims.

This invention relates to cash registers and accounting machines and particularly to the type disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,619,796, issued March 1, 1927, to B. M. Shipley. More particularly the invention is applied to a type of machine above mentioned wherein various types of itemized accounts or transactions are registered. In many instances, and particularly in States where sales tax laws are in force, it is necessary to determine the total of the several items which have been registered in connection with one particular transaction, so that the operator may then determine the amount of tax to be charged in connection with that transaction.

In machines of this type there is provided a listin key which is depressed and stays depressed during the entry of several items of any one particular transaction.

After all of the items of any multiple-item transaction have been entered, the total lever is then moved to the sub-total or read position and a reading operation is made to determine the total amount of the several items so that the operator may, from that amount, determine the amount of tax to be entered. I

After the tax has been entered, then the total lever is moved to the first position below add position, which is the item total position, and the machine put through an operation, whereupon the complete amount of the transaction, that is the total of the items, and the amount of the tax are recorded and printed, showing how much the particular transaction amounted to.

In the past, and particularly as shown in the United State Letters Patent to Samuel Brand No. 1,736,067, issued November 19, 1929, there has been provided a mechanism which automatically restores the total lever from the total or first clear or reset position to an add position at the end of a total operation.

However, when the total lever is moved to the first position above add, which is the sub-total position, to take the sub-total of the several items to determine the amount of the tax to be charged, the operator was forced to return the total lever to its acid position by hand.

Therefore, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide means for automatically returning the total lever from the item sub-total or Read Row 1 position to the Add position,

following the recording of the sub-total of the transaction being recorded.

Machines of this type are also provided with clerks-customer counters, which are adapted to count one for each complete transaction made by any one clerk.

Since a clerks key is depressed at the beginning of a multiple-item transaction and remains depressed during the entry of each of the items of said multiple-item transaction, a particular clerks counter is selected for each item entry operation, but in order to prevent such particular selected special counter from being operated during the entry of each of the several items of such multiple-item transaction, there is provided a special mechanism to control the operation of this particular clerks counter.

It is, therefore, another object of the present invention to provide a novel mechanism to prevent adding in any of the special counters which are related to the clerks, while listing the several items of those multiple-item transactions which are being recorded in connection with any particular customer.

In other words, it is an object of this invention to so control the special counter operating mechanism that it will operate only when the total of the several items of the multiple-item transaction is. recorded.

It is a still further object of the invention to so control the clerk's counter operating mechanism so that it will add when a single-item transaction is recorded in connection with any particular clerk,

A further object of the present invention is to provide novel means for controlling the special counter operating mechanism so that when the total lever is moved to any one of the three positions above the Add position, or in other words, to any one of the read or sub-total positions, the special counter mechanism will not operate, and furthermore the special counter mechanism will not operate when the total lever is moved to the second and third positions below the Add position, which are total positions for this total lever.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide novel means under control of the List key, which in turn controls mechanism for controlling the differential or latch mechanism for the clerk's row Whenever the List key is depressed for the entry of the several items of a multiple-item transaction, to control the operation of the special counters so that they will be prevented from operating during the entry of the several items of a multiple-item transaction.

With these and incidental objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims, and a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification.

Of said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a right side elevation partly broken away, showing the List key of row one and the clerks keys of row 2, and also the mechanism controlled by the List key of row I, for controlling the latch mechanism of row 2, to prevent adding in the special counters of row 2 during listing operations.

Fig, 2 is a diagrammatic view of a portion of the keyboard and also shows the total lever and the positions of adjustment thereof.

Fig. 3 is a left side elevation partly broken away, showing two of the clerks special counters and the operating means therefor, and also a part of the control mechanism for controlling the effectivity of the operating means.

Fig. 4 shows a portion of the total lever and mechanism controlled thereby to control the special counter operating means and the means to control the operation of the shaft which actuates the special counter operating means.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of the special counter operating means.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of the driving mechanism for the machine and shows the mechanism for controlling the machine so that it will receive two cycles of operation during total-taking and during sub-total-taking operations, and also shows the means for positively insuring that the driving mechanism and the main cam shaft will be restored to normal position at the end of the operation, and in addition shows a part of the mechanism for restoring the total lever to its Add position from either the Read Row 1" position or the Clear Row 1 position.

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the total lever, partly broken away, with part of the mechanism operated thereby and a part of the automatic restoring means for said total lever.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view of a part of the mechanism for restoring the total lever to its Add position from either the first position above or the first position below Add.

Fig. 9 is a rear view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 7

Fig. 10 is a rear View of other parts of the mechanism shown in Fig. '7.

Fig. 11 shows the driving means for the special counter operating means drive shaft.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION As has been previously pointed out, this invention is adapted for use in connection with machines of the type shown in the Shipley Patent No. 1,619,796. Such machines are usually provided, in addition to the regular amount keys, with three rows of control keys and a total lever, the latter operable to control the machine for the various types of operations, such as adding, subtotaling and totaling.

Associated with each row of control keys is a totalizer, as is fully illustrated and described in the above mentioned Shipley patent. In Fig. 2 of the present application there is shown a diagrammatic VlBW of the control rows of keys and the total lever. These rows are numbered 1, 2 and 3, row 1 controlling totalizers on the upper totalizer line, row 2 controlling totalizers on the back totalizer line, and row 3 controlling totalizers on the front totalizer line.

In Fig. 2 of the present application the lowermost key of row 1 is designated List. The other keys in this row may have captions to suit the busines in which the machine is to be used. In row 2 all keys are marked with the captions A to K designating clerks keys, and in row 3 these keys may carry any desired captions to suit the business, such as various departments or various types of merchandise.

As previously stated, thi invention relates particularly to the special counters and mechanism for controlling the operation thereof, which special counters are associated, one with each of the clerks keys of row 2. The machine is particularly adapted for the registering and recording of single-item transactions and multiple-item transactions. For a single-item transaction the operator, after setting up the amount of the transaction, depresses a key in row 3, one of the clerks keys and one of the upper keys in row 1, designating, for example, the type of transaction, such as cash, charge or paid-out.

During this operation the total lever is in the add position, as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2, and the machine goes through one cycle of operation to register and record the amount set up on the amount keys, and at the same time to count 1 in the special counter associated with the particular clerks key which has been depressed. During multiple-item entry operations the List key at the bottom of row 1 is operated in conjunction with a key in row 3, and also a designated clerks key in row 2. During the registration and recording of multiple items, it is desirable that the special counter associated with the clerks key which has been operated does not function, or in other words, does not add 1 for the entry of each of the several items of a multiple-item transaction because the particular system being described is to have 1 added to each of the special counters associated with the clerks for each complete transaction, whether it be a single-item transaction or a multiple-item transaction.

Therefore, means is provided for controlling the operating mechanism for the special counters so as to disable it whenever the List key is depressed for the entry of a multiple-item transaction.

After the entry of the several items of a multiple-item transaction, the operator moves the total lever to the first position above Add, which is the Read Row 1 position, in order to take a reading or sub-total of the amount of money which has been entered and totaled for the several items of the transaction. This amount is indicated, whereupon the operator may from that amount determine the amount of tax to be charged for this multiple-item transaction. After the amount has been read and the machine released for this particular operation there is mechanism provided for automatically returning the total lever from the sub-total or Read Row 1 position to the Add position, so that it is not necessary for the operator to move the total lever back to its adding position in order to set up the amount of tax and add that to the amount which is in the totalizer, which amount is the sum of the several items of the multiple-item transaction.

After the entry of the tax, which i a onecycle or add operation, the operator then moves the total lever downwardly to the Clear Row 1 position, which is the first position below Add, and during such operation the totalizer is cleared to show the total amount of the transaction, that is the sum of the several items plus the amount of the tax chargeable thereagainst.

Also, after this operation the total lever is automatically returned upwardly to its normal or Add position, so that it is not necessary for the operator to do this manually.

There is mechanism associated with the total lever to control the special counter operating mechanism so as to disable the special counter mechanism whenever the total lever is moved upwardly into the Read Row 1, Read Row 2, or Read Row 3 position, or whenever it is moved; downwardly to the Clear Row 2 or Clear Row 3 position. In other words, whenever the total lever, for example, during a multiple-item operation, is moved to the Read Row 1 position in order to find out how much the total of the several items amounts to, so that the tax may be added thereto, the special counter associated with the clerk who is performing this operation is not operated due to the fact that the total lever controls novel mechanism for disabling the special counter operating mechanism. However, when the total lever is moved to the Clear Row 1 position, such novel mechanism is controlled so that it again enables the special counter operating mechanism, so that the clerks counter associated with the clerk performing this operation will have 1 added thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Machine operating mechanism The machine is provided with a main cam shaft 30 (Fig. 6) supported by side frames 28 and 29 (Fig. 5). This shaft 30 receives one rotation in the direction of the arrow during each item entering operation and two rotations during each sub-total taking and each total-taking operation.

The cam shaft 30 may be rotated either by means of a motor, as described in the abovementioned Shipley Patent No. 1,619,796, or by means of a crank (not shown) which is adapted to be clutched to a pinion 3| mounted to retate on a hollow stud 32. The pinion 3| meshes with a gear 33 mounted on a stud 34. The gear 33 meshes with a gear 35 secured to the main cam shaft 30. Two rotations of the pinion 3| drive the gear 35 and the shaft 36 one complete rotation. During read or sub-total operations, and also during total taking operations the gear 35 and shaft 30 are given two complete rotations.

The reason for giving the shaft 30 two complete rotation during read or sub-total taking operations and also during total-taking operations is well known in the art and is described in full and also illustrated in the above-mentioned Shipley patent.

In order to insure the return of the machine to home position there is secured to the main cam shaft 30 a cam 36. This cam 36 cooperates with a roller 3'! carried by an arm 38 pivoted at 39 to the machine frame 28 (Fig. 5). A strong spring 40 (Fig. 6) maintains the roller 31 always in contact with the cam 36. As the shaft 30 rotates, the cam 36 will stretch the spring 40 until, near the end of the rotation of the shaft 3|! the roller 31 passes off the highest point of the cam 36, whereupon the spring 40 returns the arm 38 and cam 36 to normal, thus insuring the positive return of the main shaft 30 to its normal position.

6 Keyboard The machine to illustrate the present invention is provided with total lever 4| (Fig. 2) oper-v able in a slideway 42, in the machine cabinet (not shown) so that it can be moved into its various positions above and below the Add position. Such cabinet is provided with the usual hinged lids for openings to afford access to the various mechanisms by authorized persons when necessary. Such lids are provided with locks for protectionof the mechanisms to prevent any tampering therewith.

7 There are also provided three rows of control keys and several rows of amount keys. The control rows are designated row 1, row 2 and row 3. For example, in row 1 there is provided a List" key 43 and several other keys, such as Cash, Charge, Received-on-Account, Paid-Out and No-Sale, all of which keys have been designated 44. Row 2 is comprised of a row of clerks keys 45 and row 3 is comprised of department keys 46 designated XI to X9. There may be several rows of amount keys 41, depending upon the capacity desired by the person using the machine,

In Fig. 1 is shown the mounting of the List key 43 in row 1 and the clerks keys 45 in row 2. The List key 43 and the remaining keys 44 in row 1 are mounted in a key frame 50, which in turn is mounted on cross rods 5| and 52 supported by the machine side frames 28 and 29.

The clerks keys 45 are mounted in a key frame 53, which is supported by the cross rods 5| and 52 in the usual manner.

The mounting for the department keys 46 and the amount keys 4'! is not shown herein, but such keys are also carried by frames similar to the frames 50 and 53, which in turn are supported on the cross rods 5| and '52, as is fully illustrated in the above-mentioned Shipley Patent No. 1,619,796.

The List key 43 (Fig. 1) carries a pin 55 cooperating with an inclined surface 56 of a lever 57 pivoted on the usual tie rod 58. The inclined surface 56 of the lever 51 is normally held in contact with the pin 55 by a spring 59. When the List key 43 is depressed the pin 55 rocks the lever 51 clockwise for a purpose which will be hereinafter described in connection with the control of the operating mechanism for the special counters.

Associated with the bank of clerks keys 45 is the usual differentially adjustable arm 60 carrying the usual latch mechanism 6|, having a pin 62 engaged by an arm 63, which is pivoted on the rod 58. This differential arm 60 is controlled by the clerks keys which have been depressed so as to cause a differential setting of the arm 60 during the operation of the machine in a manner which is fully illustrated and described in the above-mentioned Shipley patent.

SPECIAL COUNTERS This machine is provided with a plurality of special step by step counters, there being a separate counter appropriated to each of the clerks keys 45; however, only two of such counters are shown, as viewed in Fig. 3.

In normal single-entry operations whenever one of the clerks keys 45 is depressed its associated special counter is selected to have 1 added thereto to keep account of the number of transactions which are handled by that particular clerk.

However, during multiple-item operations it is desirable to have the associated special counter for the clerk handling the transaction operate only once and that being during the taking of the total of the several items of the multipleitem transaction.

Therefore, there is provided in connection with these special counters, special mechanism for controlling the effectivity of the driving mechanism for the operating mechanism of the special counters, so that during the entry of each of the items of a multiple-item transaction any selected special counter will not be operated, nor will it be operated during the operation when the clerk is taking a reading or sub-total operation to determine how much tax is to be charged against the total of this multiple-item transaction.

The type of counter used is well known and is fully illustrated and described in the United States patent to F. L. Fuller No. 1,394,256, issued on October 18, l92l,'and reference may be had thereto for a specific detailed description of the same.

In view of the above-mentioned description, only a brief description of the counters will be given herein. Each of the specialcounters comprises a plurality of counter wheels 1| (Fig. 3) loosely mounted on a shaft 12 supported by a counter supporting frame 13 carried by the cross rods and 52. The counters are adapted to be given a step by step movement by feeding pawls 14 mounted on pawl-carrying levers T5 pivotally supported by the shafts 12. The feeding pawls 14 cooperate with ratchets I6 which are secured to the side of the special counter wheels I I. The ratchets I6 and consequently the wheels TI are given one step of movement by the pawls 14 to count 1 each time the pawl-carrying levers 15 are operated, in a manner to be hereafter described.

Pivoted to the feed pawl carrying levers 15 are links 'I! which at their opposite ends are pivoted to slotted links 18 slidably mounted on pins 19 mounted in the counter frame '13.

Associated with the special counters II is a selecting arm 89 which is set differentially under the control of the clerks keys 45,- as is fully i1- lustrated and described in the above-mentioned Fuller patent. In other words, when the K key 45 is depressed the selecting arm is moved to a position to select the lowermost of the two special counters shown in Fig. 3 and when the J key 45 is depressed the next counter above it is selected for operation.

There is associated with all of the special counters II an operating bar 8| pivoted at its lower end to a lever 82 which is pivoted at 83 on the frame 13. The upper end of the operating bar 8| is supported by a link (not shown) which is also pivoted to the frame I3. This operating bar 8| has a plurality of slots 84 cut therein to embrace the pins which form the pivotal point between the links TI and the slotted links I8.

When the operating bar BI is moved downwardly by mechanism, which will be later described, the pins in the ends of the links ll will also be carried downwardly and the slotted links 18 will slide on their supporting pins I9 except that link is relatively to which the selecting arm 89 has been positioned in cooperative relation. When this occurs the sliding link 18 for the selected counter will contact the end of the selecting arm 89- and will be held against movement. This link I8 and its associated link 11 therefore will form a toggle which when straight- 8. ened by the downward movement of the operating tbar 8|, will :turn the pawl carrying lever I5 and rotate the units counter wheel 1| one step to add 1 to the selected counter.

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR SPECIAL COUNTER OPERATING BAR The operating mechanism for the special counter operating bar 8| is driven from a shaft 9| (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) which receives its movement from the main cam shaft '39 in the following manner:

Secured to the main cam shaft 30 is a Worm gear 92 meshing with a worm 93, which is secured by a sleeve to a drive plate 95 (see also Fig. 11), the worm 93, sleeve 94, and plate 95 being loose on the shaft 9|. The plate 95 has pivoted thereon a drive pawl 96 cooperating with a drive lug 91 secured to a collar 98 which is fastened to the shaft 9|. When the shaft 39 is rotated the worm gear 92 drives the worm 93 and consequently the plate 95, whereupon the drive pawl 96 through its cooperation with the lug 91 drives the collar 98 and shaft 9| through one complete rotation for each rotation of the cam shaft 39. Such movement is counterclockwise in Fig. 11 and clockwise in Fig. 5.

To prevent retrograde movement of the shaft 9| there is a retaining pawl 99 cooperating with the other shoulder of the lug 91. This pawl 99 is connected by a spring I99 to the drive pawl 96.

This shaft 9| is given one complete rotation during adding operations for each rotation of the cam shaft 39 which, as above mentioned, makes one rotation during adding operations.

However, during total-taking operations the cam shaft 30 makes two complete rotations but it is desirable to prevent operation of the shaft 9| during the first rotation of the shaft 30 during all total and sub-total operations, and consequently there is provided a means which is operable under control of the total lever 4| for preventing operation of the shaft 9| during the first cycle of a totaling operation.

This mechanism (Figs. 4 and 11) includes an arm Ifll fast upon a shaft I92, the operation of which will be hereinafter described. Pivoted to the arm I|l| is a link I03 which is also pivoted to a casting arm I94 loosely mounted on a shaft I95 supported by the machine frames 28 and 29. The arm I04 has a finger I96 which, when the total lever ll is operated to rock the shaft I92, rocks clockwise, and moves to the position shown in Fig. 11, in which it will cooperate with the tail of the drive pawl 95. When the finger I09 has been moved into the position shown in Fig. 11 and the shaft 59 begins its first rotation during total or sub-total operations, the rotation of the plate 95 will cause the tail of the pawl 99 to engage the finger I96 and to rock the pawl clockwise, thus disengaging its nose from the lug 91 so that it will ride upon the outer periphery thereof and will not drive the collar 98 and consequently will not drive the shaft 9| during the first rotation of the cam shaft 39 during total or sub-total operations.

At the completion of the first operation or rotation of the plate 95, the drive pawl 95 will return to the home position shown in Fig. 11 and consequently when the shaft 39 is rotated a second time during the total or sub-total operation the finger I99 will have been moved away from the tail of the pawl 96, and therefore the 9 pawl will drive the shaft 9| during the second rotation of the shaft 30.

Secured to the shaft 9| is a cam IIO (Figs. 3 and cooperating with a roller III carried by an arm IIZ, which is secured by a sleeve II3 to an arm I I4 pivoted on a shaft II5 carried by the spring I24 normally holds the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 3, wherein the roller III is held against the cam H0 and the operating bar 8| is held in the position shown in this figure.

As the cam H0 is rotated by the shaft 9I the roller II I is raised, consequently rocking the arms H2 and H4, which raises the link H6 and through the pin II'I rocks the arms II9 and I22 clockwise, thus rocking the lever 82 counterclockwise and lowering the operating bar 8| in the manner above described so as to operate the links I8 and TI to actuate the pawl I4 to operate the associated special counter wheel II to count 1, the links I8 and TI operated, being the ones opposite the selected position of the selecting arm 80 under control of the clerks key 45 which has been depressed. From the above description it will be perfectly clear that durin the entry of each single-item transaction, which is a regular normal adding operation, the selected special counter II will be actuated to count 1 so that the clerk who handled the transaction will be given credit for that one particular transaction.

It will also be clear that during the first cycle or first rotation of the cam shaft 30 during each read or sub-total operation and also during each clear or reset operation the shaft 9I (Fig. 3) is prevented from rotating and consequently the lever 82 is not moved counterclockwise by the intermediate mechanism shown in Fig. 3, and therefore there will be no actuation of the selected clerk's special counter during such first cycle of a sub-total or total-taking operation.

Whenever the total lever II is moved to the Read Row 1 position, Read Row 2 position, Read Row 3 position, or Clear Row 2 position or Clear Row 3 position, it is necessary to disable the operating mechanism for the special counter operating bar so that during such operations any selected clerks counter will not be operated. Such mechanism will now be described with particular reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

The total control lever ll is pivoted on a sleeve I24 mounted on a stud I25 in a well known manner, which is fully illustrated and described in the above-mentioned Shipley and Fuller patents.

First will be described the mechanism for rocking the shaft I02 (Figs. 3, 4 and 7). The shaft I02 is given two movements, one directly by the movement 'of the total lever out of its add position in either direction, and a still further movement by means to be later described.

The movement of the shaft I02 is counterclockwise, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, and clockwise as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7.

As shown in Fig. '7, the total lever 4| is provided with a cam slot I30, into which projects a stud I3I of a lever I32 pivoted on a stud I33 carried by the side frame 28. This lever I32 is 10 connected by a pin and slot connection I34 to an arm I35, also pivoted on the stud I33. The arm I35 is adapted to be driven by a sprin I36 compressed between fingers on the lever I32 and the arm I35. The arm I35 has a cam slot I3'I into which projects a stud I38 on an arm I39, which is secured to the shaft I02.

Also secured to the shaft I02 is an arm I40 (Fig. 6) connected by a link I4I to a lever I42 pivoted on a stud I43. Also pivoted to the lever I42 is one end of a pitman I44 which is slidably mounted on the previously described stud 34.

The pitman I44 has two studs I45 between which an upwardly extending flange I46 of a coupler I41 projects. This coupler is adapted to slide in a slot I48 in the back of a cam I49, which is pivoted on the stud 34.

Movement of the total lever 4I out of its Add position in either direction, through the cam slot I30, lever I32, arm I35, and cam slot I31, rocks the arm I39 and consequently the shaft I02 slightly in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 6 and '7, thus moving the lever I42 clockwise which draws the pitman I44 toward the left and moves the narrow portion of the coupler I41 into a slot I50 in the drive gear 33 to couple the cam I49 to the gear.

The pitman I44 carries a roller I5I which projects into a notch in the cam I49 when the total lever 4| is in its normal Add position, but which is moved into a cam race I52 of the cam I49 when the total lever is moved in either direction out of its Add position, as described.

This cam' race'l52 is so timed that near the end of the first rotation of the shaft 30 the pitman I44 will be slid or moved still further toward the left as viewed in Fig. 6 thus giving the lever I42 an additional clockwise movement.

This additional movement of the lever I42 through the link MI and arm I40 rocks the shaft I02 still further in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 6 and 7 and counter-clockwise as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4. Thus the arm IOI, previously described, during this extra movement of the shaft I02, is moved far enough to move the finger I06 out of the path of the tail of the drive pawl 96 so as to prevent disengagement of the pawl 96 from the lug 91 durin the second cycle or second operation of the shaft 30 during a total or sub-total operation.

Control of special counter operating bar operating means directly by total lever During the entry of single-item transactions when the total lever is in the Add position, and during the clearing of row 1, which is the total of the several items of a multiple-item transaction, are the only two times that it is desirable to have the special counters II operate, and therefore, when the total lever is moved to any one of the three positions above add position, and also when it is moved to the second and third positions below the Add position, it directly operates mechanism to render the pecial counter operating bar operating mechanism ineffective. Such mechanism will now be described with particular reference to Figs. 3 and 4.

Secured to the side of the total lever 4| is a cam plate I60 having a cam slot, a portion I GI of which is concentric with the pivot point of the lever 4|. Engaging this portion I6I of the cam slot is a stud I62 on an arm I63, secured to a shaft I64, which is supported by a part of the machine frame (not shown).

Also secured to the shaft I64 is an arm I65 11 havme a. p n I66 pr jec n into. a. cam. slo I of; an; arm I68 secured to a sleeve [69 which is pivoted on the shaft I02, Also secure to the sleeve I69 is an arm I10. carrying a. pin I1I projecting into a cam slot I12 of the previously described link IIS.

When the total lever is in the Add position, as shown in Fig. 4, the stud I62 remains in the concentric portion, I6! of the slot in the plate I60. When the lever II is moved to the Clear Row 1 position which is the position into-Whic it is moved to take the total of the items of a multiple-item transaction, the plate, I60 is moved downwardly but the stud I62 remains in the concentric portion I6I of the cam slot and con-.- sequently there is no movement of the arm I63- or of the arms I68 or I10, and therefore the link II6 remains in the position shown. in Fig. 3 wherein its pin II1 is in engagement with the slot H8 in the arm H9 so that this arm and the arm I22 to which it is connected maybe rocked clockwise to operate the special counter operating bar 8| in the. manner previously described.

However, when the total lever is: moved to the Clear Row 2 or the Clear Row 3 position the plate I60. is moved downwardly to such an extent that a portion I13 of the cam slot, through the stud I62, rocks the arm I63 and shaft I64 and arm, I65 in a clockwise direction, which causes the pin I66 tomove the arms I68 and I10. counterclockwise, whereupon the pin I.1.I,. through the cam slot I 12;rocks the lever II6counter-clockwise (Fig. 3) about its pivot point on the arm. M4,. thus dise agi g, he st d H1 from the. slot I. I8 n. the. arm II9;, and cons qu ntly t e upward.

movem nt. of the link us by the, cam no in the manner previously described will be an idle movement, the slot I12 being of suificient-length for such movement without moving the arm I10 andv consequently there will be no movement of; the arm H9 or the arm I22, and therefore there will be no downward movement of the: special counter. operating bar 8| during such operations.

When the total lever is moved to the- Read- Row. 1, Read Row 2 or the Read Row 3 position, the plate I60 is moved upwardly and a; portion I14. of the cam slot in the plate I60 engages the stud I62 and moves the arm I63 and arm I65 clockwise inthe manner previously described, whereupon the pin I66 moves the. arm I68 and arm I10 counter-clockwise to rock the link; II6 counter-clockwise tov disengagethe stud II1 from the, slot; I. I8 of the arm H and consequently when the total lever is moved to any one of its three positions. above the Add position, the connection between the link II 6 and the arm H9 is broken, and, therefore, the-special counter operating bar 8I cannot be operated when the link- H6 is moved upwardly during such operations.

When the total lever 4 I is restored to its Add position from any of the above three positions above Add and alsofrom any of its two lower positions below- Add, all parts arerestored to their normal positions shown in Figs, 3- and 4.

As earlier pointed out, it is desirable and neces sary to prevent operation of the clerks special. counter which is associated with the clerks key depressed during the entry of eachof'the: several items of a multiple-item transaction, and to accomplish this the following mechanism is provided.

Referring to Fig. 1 it will be recalled that when ever the List key 43 is, depressed for the. entry of the several items of a. multiple-item transaction its; p n .5; rocks the lever 51 clockwise and holds it in this position until the sub-total of the several items is taken. This lever 51 has a rear- Wardl-y projecting integral arm I8-I normally contacting a pin I82 carried; by an, arm I83 se-v cured, to a hub I84 which is loose on a shaft I85, supported by the machine side frames 28 and 29. Also. secured to the hub I84. is an arm I86. A spring I81 maintains the pin I82 normally in contact with the arm I8I. Secured to the arm I86- isa plate I88 having a notch I89 and a surface I90v which is, when the parts are in their normal positions as shown in Fig. 1, concentric with the center of the rod 58., This rod 58 isin axial alinement with the stud I (Fig. '7.) upon which the total lever M is mounted. The total lever 41 carriesa stud I91 (Fig. 7) shown in three positions in dotv and dash lines in Fig. 1, which three positions are marked Add, Clear Row 1, and Read Row 1..

When the List key 43 is depressed and the lever 51 rocked clockwise thereby, the arm IBI of said. lever is moved downwardly whereupon the spring I81 rocks the arms I86. and I83. counter-clockwise, causing the pin I82 to follow the arm I8I. At the same. time the notch I69 engages the stud I9I of the total lever which during the listing ofthe items of a multiple-item. transaction is. in its Add position, and consequently the upper end I92 of the arm I83 is moved into the dot and dash line. position of Fig. 1, which is in the path of. movement of an arm I03. int gral. with. the arm. 63, which. is c nnec ed to the. latch of. the. difierential. arm which associated. with. he clerksbank of. keys. Ther fore, when the. machine is operated the arm I93 contacts the end I92 of they arm I83 causing the arm, 63 to stopv in the zero position, consequently causing the differential arm 60 and the associated 1 selecting. arm 80, to stop in this position so that the clerkls. special counter associated. with the key which. has, been depressed is not selected during the, entry of the items of a multiple-item transaction. Therefore even. though the Operating mechanism. is operated during the entry of the several. items of a multipleritem transaction, the special counter associated with the clerk, not being selected, will not be actuated.

This condition also exists when the total lever is moved into the Read Row 1 position, which is the position in which the sub-total, of the several items of a multiple-item transaction are taken, as has. been previously described. The notch I89. is of sufficient width to engage the stud I9I when the lever I has been moved to its Read Row 1 position, as shown in Fig. 1,

and therefore the end I92 of the arm I63 will be moved in the path. of the arm I93 on the arm 63 to. cause the latch to b disconnected from the difi'erential arm in the zero position so that even inthe sub-total operation the clerks special counter will. not be selected.

However, when the total is taken of the several items of the multiple-item transaction the total lever ll is movedt its lear Row 1 position, and the stud ISI (Fig. 1) is moved into the Clear Row. 1 position shown, it moves the plate I88 until said stud I6! contacts the surface I66 on the plate H16 and consequently moving the end I92 of the arm I86 out of the path of movement of the arm I93. on the differential arm 63.

Therefore, during the taking of the total of the several items of a multiple-item transaction the differential arm 60 is moved upwardly until it is positioned in accordance with the clerks key which has been depressed, and consequently the clerks special counter will be selected during the first cycle of this operation and 1 will be added to that selected counter during the second cycle of this total operation so as to count 1 to give the clerk credit for having handled a multipleitem transaction.

Automatic restoring of total lever from Clear Row 1 position to the "Add" position After taking the final total of the items of a multiple-item transaction plus the amount of tax thereon, the total lever 4| is automatically restored from the Clear Row 1 position to the Add position. This mechanism is illustrated in Figs. 6 to 10.

The total lever 4| is provided with a rearwardly projecting lug 2| adapted to be moved upwardly (Fig. 7) into the path of one of two rollers 202, when the total lever is moved into its first position below its Add position which is the Clear Row 1 position. The rollers 202 are mounted within an annular groove 203 (Fig. 10) of a collar 204. The collar 264 is rotated during total-taking operations for causing one of the rollers 202 to engage the lug 20| to restore the total lever 4| from its Clear Row 1 position to its Add position.

The collar 294 is rotated by mechanism actuated by the arm 38 (Fig. 6), previously described, which carries the roller 3?, which is held in con tact with the cam 36 on the main cam shaft 30 by the strong spring 40. Mounted on the rear of the arm 38 is a stud 205 which is adapted to be engaged by a downwardly extending hook 205 pivoted on an arm 201 secured to a short shaft 208. Also secured to the shaft 208 is a segment 209 (Figs. 7 and 8) which meshes with a partial gear 2|0 loosely mounted on a shaft 2II, upon which the collar 204 is also mounted.

During the latter part of the first cycle of a total-taking operation the hook 206 is rocked to the left into the path of the stud 265. A guide 2| 2 is secured to the arm 30 and also supports the stud 205. The guide 2|2 and the rear end of the arm 38 act as a means for guiding the hook. 206 into proper position to be engaged by the stud 205. When the arm 38 is lowered by the cam 36 during the latter part of the operation of the machine, the stud 205 is lowered and by its contact with the hook 206 the segment 209 is rocked counter-clockwise, and it in turn rotates the partial gear 2I0 in a clockwise direc tion (Figs. 7 and 8).

During this clockwise movement of the partial gear 2|0 the collar 204 is held against rotation by a flanged latch 226, which engages a shoulder 22? (Figs. 9 and 10) in one of the flanges of the collar 204. This latch 226 is pivoted on a rod 222 and is held in contact with the shoulder 22'! by a spring 228. The gear 2| is permitted to rotate independently of the collar 204 due to a clutch connection (Fig. 10) which is provided with a cam edge 2 I on each of the clutch prongs. As the gear 2|0 rotates the cam edges 2|5 will cause the gear 2!!! to be shifted toward the left (Fig. against the tension of a spring 2| 6 until said gear is disconnected from the collar 204.

The downward movement of the hook 206 will drive the gear 2 I 0 through one-half of a rotation in a clockwise direction. At the end of this onehalf rotation the spring 2I6 shifts the gear 2I0 toward the right (Fig. 10) to reengage the clutch prongs with the clutch slots of the collar 204.

The downward movement of the hook 206 will also stretch a strong spring 2 N (Fig. 6) attached to the upper end of the arm 201-. The spring 2|! normally holds the arm 20! against a resilient bumper plate 2 I6 carried in a block 2I9 supported by the machine side frame 28. Just as the machine comes to rest and the total lever 4| is free to be moved back to its add position in a manner to be hereinafter described, the spring 2I'I rotates the segment 209 in a clockwise direction thereby rotating the gear 2|0 and the collar 204 in a counter-clockwise direction. During this counterclockwise movement of the collar 204 one of the rollers 202 engages the lug 20I of the total lever 4| and restores the lever from its Clear Row 1 position to its Add position.

Before the collar 204 can be rotated in a counter-clockwise position, as just described, it is necessary, to disengage a latch 2|3 from a wall 2|4 of a notch in the flange of the collar 204. This latch 2|3 is pivoted on a rod 222. Mounted on the segment 209 is a stud 220 (Fig. 8) which near the end of the counter-clockwise movement of the segment 209 engages an arm 22I of the latch 2|3 thereby rotating the latch against the tension of a spring 223. The arm 22| of the latch 2|3 is provided with a surface 224 long enough to maintain the latch 2|3 disengaged from the wall 2|4 of the notch until the periphery of the flange of the collar 204 passes the nose of the latch 2|3. Just as the collar 204 completes its one-half rotation, the latch 2|3 will be engaged with the diametrically opposite shoulder 225 of a notch in the flange of the collar 204, under the action of the spring 223, thereby preventing iurther rotation of said collar 204. During the first cycle of a total-takingloperation, the hook 206 is held in a position in which it is prevented from engaging the stud 205 by means of a link 230 slidably mounted on studs 23| and 232. The stud 23| is mounted on one of the machine frames and the stud 232 is carried by the previously described lever I42. The right-hand end of the link 230 is provided with a slot 233, the upper narrow portion of which normally engages a stud 234 carried by the hook 206. When the total lever 4| is moved into any of its total-taking positions the hook 206 is given a slight movement toward the left, but this movement is not enough to engage it with the stud 205.

This initial movement is given to the hook 206 upon the manual movement of the total lever 4| by means of the mechanism shown in the left of Fig. 7, which has been previously described,

which mechanism rocks the shaft I02 and the Near the end of the first cycle of operation the link 230 is given an additional movement toward the left by the cam I49 when it rocks the lever I42 in the manner previously described.

The timing of the cam race I52, which has-been previously described, and which moves the pitman I44 to rock the lever I42, is such that near the end of the first rotation of the cam shaft 30 the pitman I44 will he slid still further toward the left (Fig. 6) thereby giving the lever I42 an additional clockwise movement.

Just before the cam race 52. moves the pitman I44 toward the left, the cam 36 moves the arm 38- to its lowermost position. After the arm 31 has thus been lowered the cam race !;52 causes the lever !42 to be. rocked in a clockwise direction as. just described, which movement is sufiicient to. permit the link 230 to be moved: to the left to cause the hook 206 to be moved into the path of the stud 205 but above said stud.

At the end of the first rotation of the shaft 30 the strong spring 49 raises: the arm 38 and as the arm is raised the stud 205 will cam the hook 206: and link 23!] toward the right against the tension of the spring. 236-. After the stud 205 has passed the hook the spring 236 moves the link 23.!) and the hook 206 toward the left thereby movingthe hook beneath the stud 2'05.

Near-the end of the second rotation of the shaft 30-the arm 38. is again lowered, thereby lowering the-hook 206- to rotate the gear 2 H! in a clockwise direction as before described. At the very end of: the second cycle of the operation of the shaft 30 the spring 40 again raises the arm 38", thereby moving: the stud 205 upward and away from the hook 206 The total: lever 4! cannot be returned to its acid position until the machine has reached its home position. For-this reason the hook 206 cannot follow the arm 38' to its normal position when said arm is: raised by the spring 40 nearthe: end of: the second cycle of the operation of themachine. However, the hook 206 can follow for a short distance until the roller 2:02. engages the lug on the: total lever 41;, whereupon it will be. prevented from" moving because at this time the total? lever 4! cannot be moved.

When the cam I49 reaches its home position and the roller I5! is in position to again. engage the notch in the cam !49' as shown in Fig. 6 the pitmanl 44= will be free to be moved toward the right thereby permitting the counter-clockwiserotation of the lever I42. This will permit the spring 2!! to complete the counter-clockwise rotation of the. collar 204, thereby causing the total lever Hi to be returned to its Add position by the roller 202. However, this movement will not take place until the: shaft !02 is free to-be moved by the cam. slot in the total lever 4.1. Thus when the roller !5:!- moves into the notch in the cam I49 the shaft !02' will be free to move, and therefore the cam. slot, [-30 can rock the shaft !:02, thereby permitting the total lever 4! to be returned to its Add position.

Movement of the lever I 42 when thetotal lever is returned to its Add. position causes the link 230 to be moved toward, the right, and for this reason the lower portion of the slot 233 is. widened as at 238 so that even though the link 230 shall have been moved toward, theright-from: the position shown, the stud 234: will be cammed into the upper small portion of the notch 233 by means ofv the spring 2.

From the. above description it will-be clear that after the end of the operation of the total of the several: items of a multipleritem transaction, plus the. amount of tax on those items, the total lever will be automatically returned to its normal position.

Automatic return of the total [ever from the "Read Row 1 position to its Add position- Inorder to. avoid the necessity for the operator having to manually restore the total lever from the Read Row 1. position after having. taken a sub-total of the several items. of a multiple- 16 item transaction, to determine the amount of tax to be charged against the total of these items, there is provided a novel mechanism for automatically restoring the total lever from this subtotal or Read Row 1 position back into its adding position.

In order to accomplish this, the mechanism used to automatically restore the total lever from the Clear Row 1 position to its Add position, and which has just been above described, is utilized in conjunction with the following described new mechanism.

Mounted on the shaft 208 (Fig. 8) is an arm 24!, connected by a bail 242 to an arm 243, which is also mounted on the shaft 208. The arm 243 is notched to engage a machine frame 244 to hold the arm 243, bail 242 and arm 24! in a rigid position on the shaft 208.

Pivoted on a stud 245 carried by the arm 24! is a lever 246 carrying a pin 24'! adapted to cooperate with the underside of the lug 20 I, on the rear of the total lever 4!. Integral with the lever 246 is a finger 248, bent over to lie in the path of the rollers 202, which are carried between the flanges of the collar 204. A spring 249 holds the finger 24B normally adjacent one of the rollers 202, as shown in Fig. 8. The lever 246 is provided with a slot 250, which is concentric with the center of the stud 245. Projecting into this slot 250 is a pin 25! carried by the arm 24! The bottom. edge of this slot acts as a stop for the lever 246 against the action of its spring 249, so that it will remain in the normal position gloigwn in Fig. 8, and not bear against the roller When describing how the total lever 4! was returned to its normal position from the first position below Add, or in other words, the Clear Row 1 position, it was described how one of the rollers 202, by its engagement with the upper side of the lug 20! restored the lever 4! to its Add position.

During a sub-total operation the segment 209 operates the partial pinion 2H) in exactly the same manner as it does during a total operation, which has been above described. Consequently the collar 204 and rollers 202 operate in identically the same manner and at identically the same time during sub-total operations when the total lever 4! is moved to its first position above Add, which is the Read Row 1 position.

Therefore, during the last half of the second cycle of the sub-total operation, or practically at the very end of said second cycle, thecollar 204 is rotated counter-clockwise by the spring. 2!! (Fig. 6) in the manner above described.

When this occurs one of the rollers 202' by its engagement with the finger 248 of the lever 24% rocks said lever clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 8, against the tension of the spring 249 a sufiicient distance to cause the pin 24! to contact the underside of the lug 20! on the total lever 4! and. rock said total lever counter-clockwise to its normal position, this being from the Read Row 1? position to the Add position, after the com pletion of a-sub-total operation.

Therefore, by means of the present invention.

the total lever 4! is not only restored from the Clear Row 1 position to its Add position, automatically, but it is also automatically restored to its Add position from its Read Row 1 position which, as above described, is the subtotal position to which the operator moves the total lever 4!: after having entered several items of. amultiple-item transaction in order to deter mine how much tax is to be charged against the total of those items before taking the final total, which is taken when the total lever is moved into the Clear Row 1 position, which total, of course. includes the sums of all of the items of the multiple-item transaction, plus the amount of tax' which is charged to that amount.

Since the operation of the machine has been fully and clearly described in connection with the various detailed operations, it is not thought necessary to give any description of a complete operation at this point.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it should be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form of embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the class described, adapted to record single-item transactions and multipleitem transactions and having a total lever having an add position, a sub-total takin position, and a total-taking position, a bank of clerks keys and a differential mechanism associated with said clerks keys, the combination of a plurality of special step-by-step counters, one associated with each of the keys in the clerks bank; means actuated under control of the clerks bank differential mechanism for selecting one of said counters for each single-item transaction, and also for selecting one of said counters for each of said multiple-item transactions; actuating means for said special counters; operating means 1 ating means to render the latter ineffective upon movement of the cam device by said total lever when the total lever is moved into certain of its positions of adjustment; and a member carried by the total lever to operate aportion of said intermediate means upon movement of the total lever into total-taking position to render the remainder of said intermediate means ineffective, thus causing the differential mechanism to select a special counter during the taking of the total of the multiple items.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a total lever having an add position, total-taking position, and a sub-total taking position, said lever adapted to be manually set into it total-taking position and into its sub- .2

total taking position; a rotatable member adapted to cooperate with said lever for restoring it from its total-taking position to its add position; a normally inactive spring actuated device for rotating said member; means normally disconnected from said spring actuated device and operable during adding operations, sub-total taking operations and total taking operations and effective during sub-total taking operations to render said device active; means operating during sub-total-taking operations to connect said device to said normally disconnected means and to release said device from said normally disconnected means; and a lever device operable by said rotatable member to restore the total lever 18 from its sub-total taking position to its add position under the action of said spring actuated device when the latter is rendered active.

3. In a machine of the class described, adapted to perform single-item entry operations and multiple-item entry operations, and having a total lever movable into positions to control the machine for taking totals and sub-totals of the items of a multiple-item transaction; the combination of a bank of clerks keys; a bank of other control keys having therein one special key; a differential mechanism associated with said clerks bank of keys; a plurality of special counters, one for each of said clerks keys; actuating means for said special counters; operating means for driving said actuating means; means controlled by said diiferential mechanism for selecting any of said special counters according to the clerks keys which has been depressed; a projecting member associated with and connected to said differential mechanism; means normally inefiective and under control of said special key and, when rendered effective, adapted to be moved into the path of said projecting member on the differential mechanism to prevent the selection of any of said special counters during entry of the items of a multiple-item transaction, and also during the taking of the sub-total of said items; means operable by said special key to render said normally ineffective means effective; means carried by said total lever to move said normally ineffective means from an effective position back to its ineffective position upon movement of the total lever into its item total taking position to cause the selection of the appropriate special counter; and means also operated by said total lever when it is moved into sub-total position for rendering the special counter actuating-operating means ineffective during the taking of a sub-total of the several items of the multiple-item transaction; and to again render the special counter actuating operating means efiective to count 1 in the selected counter when said total lever is moved into position to take the total of the several items of a multiple-item transaction.

4. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a total lever having an add position, a total-taking position and a sub-total taking position, said lever being adapted to be manually set into its sub-total taking position and into its total-taking position; a rotatable member adapted to cooperate with said lever for restoring it from its total-taking position to its add position; a normally inactive spring for rotating said member; a normally disconnected operating means for rendering the spring active during total taking operations; mechanism operable by the lever when the lever is moved to its totaltaking position to connect the spring with the operating means; a pivoted member; a projection on said member cooperating with said rotatable member; and another projection on said member cooperating with said total lever, to cause said lever to be restored to its normal adding position from its sub-total taking position under action of said spring When it is rendered active.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a total control lever having an add position, a sub-total taking position, and a total taking position, said lever adapted to be set manually into its sub-total taking position and also into its total-taking position; a rotatable member; means carried by said member to cooperate with the total lever to restore the total lever to its adding position from its totaL-takins; position; operating means to rotate said member; a member operable during adding operations and durin sub-total and total taking operations of the machine; a projection on said operable member; a flexibly mounted device connected to said operating means and normally disconnected from said operable member; mean projecting from said flexibly mounted device; means erobracing' said projecting means to connect said flexible device with the projection on the operable member during sub-total and total taking operations; guiding means on the operable member to prevent displacement of the flexible device; a pivoted member; a projection on said member cooperating with said rotatable member; another projection on said pivoted member cooperating with said total lever to engage and restore said total lever from its sub-total taking position into its adding position upon operation of said rotatable member.

-6. In a machine of the-class described, the col bination of a total lever having an adding position, a sub-total taking position and'a total-tab i-ng osition, said lever adapted to be set manually into sub-total taking position and also into its total-taking position; means including a rotatable device carrying two members eitherof which is adapted to cooperate with the total lever to automatically restore said total lever from its total-taking position to its add position upon ro tation of said device; and means including a rockable device adapted to cooperate with the total lever and operable by eitherone of said two mem here to automatically restore said total lever from its sub-total taking, position into its add position.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a total lever having an add position, a sub-total taking position and a total-taking position, said lever being adapted to be set manually into its sub-total taking position and also into its total-taking position; a member pro jecting from said total lever; means including a rotatable device to automatically restore said total lever from its total taking position to its add po- 1121011 by contacting o e side of said pro ectin member on the total l v r, a d a ookab m rnber controlled by said rotatabl device for auto.- matically restoring said total lever from its sub.- total taking position to its add position upon con.- tacting the opposite side of said projecting member on said total lever.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a total control lever having an add position, a subetotal taking position and atotaletaking position, said lever being adapted to be set manually to its total-taking position and also into sub-total taking position, said sub-total taking position and said total-taking position :being inop-posite directions from the normal adding position; and common means operable to auto matic-ally restore said total lever from its sub.- total taking position into its add position, and also from its total-taking position into itsadd position, said common mean including a rotatable member carrying means to contact said total lever when it has been moved into its total-taking position to restore it to its inqrmal add position, and also including a pivoted member cooperating with said total lever and operable by said rotatiable means to restore said total lever from its sub-total taking position into it add position.

FRA K B. MOSEB.

EF RENC S CI D The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

